The Backyard Naturalists

Welcome to The Backyard Naturalists, the show about anything and everything connected with nature.   In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, we dive into the many reasons why trees are invaluable to our health, environment, and economy. A recent study conducted by the University of Louisville shows that planting trees can significantly reduce heart disease markers, improve sleep quality, and...

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Backyard Naturalists podcast! As spring blooms with vibrant life, Debbie and Laurie delve into the world of advanced bird feeding, exploring Bird Feeding 2.0. From the allure of black oil sunflower seeds to the strategic placement of multiple feeders near trees and bushes, this episode unlocks the secrets to attracting a diverse array of avian visitors to...

In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a fun and fascinating leap into the world of  frogs and toads —those small but mighty voices you hear rising from ponds, ditches, and backyards as spring turns into summer. You'll learn how to spot (and hear!) some of  North Carolina's most common amphibians , including the  American Bullfrog ,  Southern Leopard Frog ,  Spring P...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster, Laurie Horne, and Chris take a playful trip through the animal kingdom with a trivia-style episode all about the names for male and female animals . Some are familiar — like a buck and doe , bull and cow , or stallion and mare — while others are far less obvious, including cob and pen for swans, jack and jill for opossums, and even cock and he...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne explore the fascinating world of wildlife bridges, wildlife crossings, green bridges, and ecoducts — structures designed to help animals safely move across fragmented habitats caused by highways, railroads, canals, and other human-made barriers. From deer, elk, badgers, mountain lions, alligators, amphibians, turtles, and even...

It's nesting season in the Carolinas, and this week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne take a fun, award-show-style look at the many ways birds build — or sometimes barely build — their nests. From the lightning-fast Carolina wren to the ground-nesting killdeer , the late-arriving American goldfinch , and the nest-hijacking brown-headed cowbird , this episode celebrates t...

Think you need a big backyard to help wildlife? Think again! In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie prove that even the tiniest patio, balcony, porch, apartment landing, condo space, or HOA-approved corner can become a welcoming wildlife habitat. With a little creativity — and maybe a bit of "no mess, no evidence" bird feeding strategy — you can provide food, water,...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne celebrate spring planting season with a practical conversation about choosing plants that support wildlife and strengthen local ecosystems. Using the idea of "Plant This, Not That," they compare native plants that thrive in the Carolinas with invasive or problematic plants that can outcompete native species, spread aggres...

Spring is finally making itself known, and that means our backyard habitats are changing fast. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie talk about what listeners may be seeing, hearing, and experiencing in their own outdoor spaces — from nesting bluebirds, Carolina wrens, catbirds, frogs, butterflies, lizards, bats, possums, raccoons, snakes, deer, and even coyotes. Whether...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne take us into the fascinating world of barred owls , inspired by a local owl box success story just in time for Earth Day. From the excitement of watching young owlets leave the nest to the unmistakable "who cooks for you?" presence of barred owls in the Carolinas, this conversation explores how these remarkable birds live...

What do you do when tadpoles take over a horse trough? In this fun and wide-ranging episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris dive into the fascinating world of tadpoles after a listener from California asks how to handle an unexpected amphibian boom in her horses' water troughs. Along the way, the conversation explores why frogs choose certain places to lay eggs, what tadpol...

In this special Earth Day episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris celebrate Earth Day 2026 by exploring the history behind this global movement and sharing practical, everyday ways listeners can make a real difference for the planet. From the surprising origins of Earth Day in 1970 to the staggering number of people who now participate around the world, this episode is pack...

In this fun and fast-moving second installment of "How Big Is It?" , Debbie and Laurie explore some of the biggest creatures in the natural world—from the world's largest vulture and giant hummingbird to the Komodo dragon , Goliath frog , capybara , and even a massive Australian sea snail . Along the way, they share surprising facts about size, habitat, diet, and behavior, with plenty of laughter...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're bringing back a timely favorite from last spring as an encore presentation packed with practical, eco-friendly garden advice. Debbie and Laurie revisit smart, natural solutions for some of the season's most common backyard headaches, including weeds, garden pests, and unwanted plant invaders. From weed control methods like solarization and hand-pulling...

What do you call the place an animal lives? In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie dive into the surprisingly fascinating world of animal homes. From bird nests and squirrel dreys to eagle aeries, bobcat dens, bird rookeries, and bee hives, they explore the wide variety of places wildlife builds, borrows, and calls home. Along the way, they share fun facts about everything...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a fresh look at Project Pan , a social media trend encouraging people to use up every last bit of the products they already own before buying more. What starts with makeup and toiletries opens into a bigger conversation about mindful consumption , reducing waste, saving money, and making more environmentally responsible choices i...

In this popular encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie team up with Chris to tackle a timely spring topic: how to clean up your yard in ways that support birds, pollinators, and other backyard wildlife. From scrubbing bird feeders and bird baths to preparing bird houses for nesting season, they share practical, easy-to-follow tips for creating a healthier habitat just as mi...

  This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris talk birds, snow, and some seriously giant wildlife. After sharing observations from the Great Backyard Bird Count and recent winter weather in the Carolinas, the conversation turns to a big topic, literally. From  blue whales and African elephants to ostriches , whale sharks , ravens , and giant owls, the team explores some of th...

Think you know your nature facts? Think again! In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie revisit one of their most entertaining and eye-opening shows—a fast-paced true/false nature quiz led by Chris that's packed with surprising science and plenty of laughs. From the important role squirrels play in reforesting our forests to the age-old question about whether earthwor...

In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie revisit their inspiring conversation with certified forest therapy guide and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley to explore the healing power of forest bathing , also known as shinrin-yoku. Originating in Japan in the 1980s, this mindful practice invites us to slow down, unplug, and fully immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, sce...

What does it really mean when we say a snake "slithers"? In this fascinating (and often hilarious!) episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie welcome back their most frequent guest—snake enthusiast Jay Bell—to explore the science behind snake locomotion . As it turns out, "slithering" barely scratches the surface. From serpentine and concertina movement to the gravity-defying climb o...

Every February, bird lovers around the world step outside, look up, and become citizen scientists, and in this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie invite you to join the fun! We're diving into the latest results from the  Great Backyard Bird Count , a worldwide citizen-science event that started in 1998 and has grown into a truly global celebration of birds, data, and discover...

Winter weather in the Carolinas doesn't come around often, but when it does, it gets everyone talking, including the birds. In this episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris share firsthand stories from a week of ice, cold, and wildly overhyped forecasts, then turn their attention to what really matters: how winter weather impacts the wildlife right outside your door. From birds flocking to feeders ahead...

Zoos have come a long way—and in this episode of The Backyard Naturalists Podcast , Debbie and Laurie kick off their first recording of 2026 by exploring just how different modern zoos are from those many of us remember as kids. From concrete enclosures to expansive, naturalistic habitats, today's zoos play a vital role not only in animal care, but in global conservation. Joining the conversation...

What was it really like to raise a family in the Alaskan wilderness with little money, no indoor plumbing, and nature as both neighbor and teacher? In this unforgettable episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris sit down with Laurie's mom, Joe, who shares firsthand stories of raising four children on a remote Alaskan homestead. From hauling water through ice five feet thick a...